11 Reference Apps to Make You an A+ Student

There are a lot of things that go into making the back to school transition a success — from catching up on all of the Pinterest-approved make-ahead breakfast hacks to preplanning the perfect backpack and dress pairings to nailing B2S style. Another thing on our list to make getting back to campus life a little easier is to replace our addiction to iPhone games with apps that are a little more academically inclined (okay… at least some of them). Here are 11 reference apps to download that both art AND science majors can appreciate.

HUMANITIES

1. Ultralingua Dictionary: Attention all students who have accidentally sent a random word to a friend via text because you wanted to use the spellcheck function: There’s a better way! Ultralingua is a completely free, easy to use app that allows you to quickly check the spelling and definition (including slang and technical vocab) of practically any English word.

2. SwipeSpeare: Ah, Intro to Shakespeare. A friend, a nemesis… a mandatory course that you just need to pass. If you’re having a hard time understanding the lingo, try downloading this free app. A simple swipe turns any line from Shakespearian to modern-day language.

REFERENCE

3. Acronymph: No matter what discipline you’re in, trying to figure out acronyms are a pain in the rear. Luckily, this handy app defines hundreds of thousands of acronyms for under a buck. Yeah, we think it’s worth the investment.

4. Flipboard: Whether you’re a communications student or just want to stay up to date with the latest news, Flipboard is an awesome way to curate your newsfeed with articles that you actually want to read.

ARTS

5. FontBook: Graphic designers, rejoice: This just might be the only app you need to ace your freshman year. Documenting the libraries of over 150 international type foundries (AKA 45,000 plus typefaces), it’s a must for any aspiring designer.

6. Color Reference: You don’t need to major in graphic design to get use out of this cool app that details every single RGB color. From class presentations to cool document covers, you never know when you’ll need a specific pop of color.

10. Muscle Premium: We know this app costs a pretty penny, but the payoff at the end of the semester will definitely be worth a few missed cappuccinos. The app allows you to examine virtually every part of the body in 3D — including 600 muscles and 200 bones. Take that, overpriced textbooks!

11. Oceans: Don’t worry; we didn’t forget about you guys over in Marine Biology. Oceans is a cool app targeted at scuba divers and ocean explorers that allows you to send dive logs to the cloud and share observations with divers from around the world.

Ashley Macey is a lifestyle freelance writer who loves all things fitness, wellness, and creativity. When she's not exploring her home in the Pacific Northwest with her dog Max, you'll probably find her curled up with a good book and some hot tea. Follow her daily jaunts on Twitter.